Nick Luck Daily Podcast

Nick is in Riyadh ahead of the 2026 Saudi Cup, where he catches up with Kyoto Maekawa, the first woman to be licensed in Japan by the JRA and trainer of Cup contender Sunrise Zipangu. Plus, broadcast colleague Michelle Yu runs down the US contingent across the card. Also on today's show, Cornelius Lysgaht joins Nick to wrap up all the latest from around the racing world, with contributions today from trainers Joe Tizzard and Alan King, both of whom are well represented this weekend. Eddie Harty Jr pays tribute to his father, a towering figure of jump racing and equestrianism who died yesterday aged 88, just a week after his wife Patricia.

Nick is in Riyadh ahead of this weekend's Saudi Cup. The city also plays host this week to the Asian Racing Conference, where Nick catches up with NYRA CEO David O'Rourke, alongside Total Performance Data supremo Will Duff-Gordon. At the track, trainer Tom Clover talks about his quartet of runners across 4 Middle Eastern venues over the next fortnight, while Toshi Onikubo runs the rule over the Japanese contingent. David Yates is in Closutton, drawing out the thoughts of Willie `Mullins on his key Cheltenham contenders.

Nick brings you today's edition from Riyadh ahead of this weekend's Saudi Cup, the world's richest horserace. In Riyadh, Nick talks to Bob Baffert, who stands in the way of Forever Young's repeat bid with Nysos and Nevada Beach. He also catches up with JCSA's Chief Racing Officer David McKinnon. Meanwhile - in Ireland - Daily Mirror journalist David Yates sits down with Gordon Elliott to spin through his massive Festival squad, while Dan Barber adds the Timeform perspective. Plus, in association with Weatherbys, Jessica Rummel from Norton Grove Stud has news on a high profile recent acquisition.

Nick is joined by Racing Post senior writer Lee Mottershead to canter through the day's racing headlines. `Reviewing all the action from Newbury, Nick and Lee are joined by Timeform's Dan Barber too ask whether Tutti Quanti can really make up into a Champion Hurdle horse. Plus, Connor King rejoins the show to reflect on Oscar's Brother's barnstorming performance at Navan, trainer Nick Gifford mulls over whether to run stable star Aworkinprogress at Haydock this weekend, while Joseph O'Brien has all points of the compass covered with runners in Ireland, Britain, Qatar and Saudi Arabis this weekend, plus news on his Cheltenham hopefuls, including Talk the Talk. Nick and Lee also discuss Friday Night Live, as well as the perennial mares hurdle debate, stoked over the weekend by leading owner Max McNeill.

Nick is joined by RTE and Racing TV analyst Jane Mangan for a canter through today's worldwide racing news. They lead with the fallout from the Philip Byrnes verdict, acquitting the jockey of deliberately jumping off his mount at Wexford last summer. They ask why the case against him was so thinly constructed and what role the contracted BHA betting integrity monitors played in the case. Also today, updates on the BHA's own governance issues and the latest in the Parkin/Foley/Sands of Mali case. Plus, with an eye to the weekend, young trainer Connor King looks forward to Oscar's Brother taking another step towards the Grand National in the Ten Up Chase at Navan, while rookie trainer Dan Horsford seeks a milestone win at Newbury, agent and owner Dan Astbury chronicles the tale of Aisling Oscar, now an eight time consecutive handicap winner, and Bren O'Brien from The Straight on unregulated and black market share in Australia and Japan.